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Democrat Matt Denn will take office as Delaware's 45th attorney general on Tuesday, leaving the lieutenant governor's office two years early to become the state's top law enforcement official at a time of surging violent crime in Wilmington.

Denn has already filled key leadership roles ahead of his swearing-in, tapping Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor partner Danielle Gibbs as chief deputy attorney general and picking as his chief of staff Greg Patterson, a longtime political adviser and former high-ranking aide to Gov. Jack Markell

Denn will replace outgoing Attorney General Beau Biden, who has gone quiet since an April announcement that he would forgo a third term to seek the governor's office in 2016. Biden declined another request to comment for this story. Denn's ascendance to the attorney general's office will leave Delaware without a lieutenant governor until early 2017.

Newly-confirmed Superior Court President Judge Jan R. Jurden will administer Denn's oath at noon on Tuesday at the Wilmington Police Athletic League on North Market Street. Treasurer-elect Ken Simpler will also take office on Tuesday and Tom Wagner will begin his seventh four-year term as state auditor. Both are Republicans.

Denn will enter office after promising to push for greater police presence to target violent crime in Wilmington, where 28 homicides were recorded last year. In an interview, Denn said he has already engaged in discussions with Wilmington, New Castle County and Delaware state officials about funding more foot patrols in high-crime areas of Delaware's largest city.

Finding money and political support for the plan will be an early test for Denn.

"Violent crime is going to be a top priority," Denn said Friday. "I'm optimistic we're going to be able to see some foot patrol officers both from the city and from outside the city.

Gibbs, the incoming chief deputy, is leaving a corporate litigation practice at Young Conaway to help lead day-to-day operations of the Department of Justice. She clerked for former Delaware Chief Justice Myron T. Steele when Steele was vice chancellor of the Delaware Chancery Court but otherwise will be new to government service.

In a New Year's Eve email to Department of Justice employees, Denn called Gibbs a "superb attorney who I have known for many years and whose legal and practical judgment I trust completely."

Patterson, Denn's new chief of staff, worked as deputy chief of staff to Markell, as communications director to Gov. Ruth Ann Minner and as an adviser to Denn during Denn's single term as insurance commissioner.

Patterson left Markell's office in January 2014 to start a lobbying practice for the law firm Drinker Biddle in Wilmington.

During his time as a Legislative Hall lobbyist, Patterson represented the interests of AstraZeneca; Red Frog Events, the company that produces the annual Firefly Music Festival; and Westown Movie Theater in Middletown, which pushed to allow alcohol in movie theaters.

Emily Cunningham, who worked as Denn's chief of staff in the lieutenant governor's office, will also join Denn in the Department of Justice in a yet undefined role.

Simpler, the first Delaware Republican to win statewide office in two decades, will take the oath of office from Delaware Supreme Court Justice Randy Holland at 9:20 a.m. Tuesday inside the treasurer's offices in Dover.

Simpler said he will make brief remarks and take questions at the ceremony.

Wagner, the state auditor, will begin his seventh term with a 10:30 a.m. swearing-in ceremony in his Dover offices. Delaware Supreme Court Justice Henry duPont Ridgely, who is retiring Jan. 31, will administer Wagner's oath.

Ridgely worked as the town of Camden's lawyer when Wagner was mayor in the early 1980s.

Contact Jonathan Starkey at (302) 983-6756, on Twitter @jwstarkey or at jstarkey@delawareonline.com.